JULY 19, 8:54am: The Kings and Bjelica are discussing a two-year contract worth about $13MM with roughly $2MM guaranteed for 2019/20, sources tell international writer David Pick (Twitter link).
JULY 18, 2:57pm: Kings general manager Vlade Divac reached out directly to Bjelica to explain his value, tweets Charania. Krawczynski expands on that point, tweeting that the Kings and other teams have expressed to Bjelica that he’s “too good to go back to Europe.”
Meanwhile, international basketball reporter David Pick tweets that Bjelica felt “devalued” in his agreement with the Sixers. With EuroLeague powerhouses like Fenerbahce and CSKA Moscow not interested in him at this time, Sacramento may represent his best bet for a big payday, Pick adds.
2:36pm: The Kings and free agent forward Nemanja Bjelica intend to discuss a potential contract, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Bjelica, who initially agreed to a one-year, $4.45MM deal with the Sixers early in free agency, backed out of that agreement on Tuesday. Reports at the time indicated that the former EuroLeague MVP would likely head back to Europe, with Bjelica explaining that he wanted to create “some kind of stability” for his family.
However, as Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor noted in a conversation last week with Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500, Bjelica entered the offseason seeking a multiyear NBA contract. His interest in remaining in the NBA seemingly waned when he was only able to secure a one-year deal, as he suggested in his interview with Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
If the Kings are willing to give him two or three guaranteed years, that may prompt the 30-year-old to reconsider his plan to head back overseas, particularly since not many EuroLeague clubs are in position to make a competitive offer, per Sportando (Twitter link).
It’s not clear yet what sort of deal the Kings would be willing to do with Bjelica, but they have more than $20MM in cap room available with only two roster spots still open, so they’ll have plenty of flexibility if they decide they want to bring the stretch four aboard.
Meanwhile, the Sixers figure to be less than thrilled about Bjelica’s about-face if he ends up signing on with another NBA club rather than playing in Europe.
Can’t see it happening. Sac has MB3, Giles, Skal, ZBo, WCS and Kosta as bigs and no NBA caliber SF.
Now that’s a bit of a bleep move.
Seems a strange move for Sacramento, but at the end of the day I am happy he didn’t go to Philly. Also cannot see any hurt feelings from Philly they could have given him multiyears too, their choice was only one year, they knew he cared more for years than $$$, so offer it to him or be happy that someone else does. I know this is a business but at the end of the day we treating with people, regardless of their salaries they are like us, & want the same things, stability, family life, happiness…
If they can move Skal and WCS, which they should do anyway, I like the move. Randolph and Kosta are gone at deadline or next year. Gives them a stretch 4 to spread the floor for their playmakers.
Moving Skal for the sake of moving him would be a huge mistake.
Wouldn’t be just for the sake of it. He doesn’t fit with Bagely especially if Giles is healthy. Better to move him now and get a SF or a pick.
Maybe Ben Simmons is going to be the new LeBron. Nobody seems to want to play with him either.
Lolwut
Several players have said they didn’t really like playing with LeBron in the past. People have said Simmons is the future face of the league like LeBron. Bjelica backed out of his deal in Philly to go to Europe, but apparently just didn’t want to go to Philly. Do I need to explain the joke further?
Yes
Philly is a nickname for the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is the city which hosts a team called the 76ers. The 76ers drafted a player by the name of Ben Simmons in 2016. Ben Simmons was projected to be a very good basketball player, so he was drafted 1st overall.
LeBron is the first name of former Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James. The Cavaliers were named for the people on one side of the conflict known as the English Civil War. That war took place in England, which is a country in Europe. Europe is a continent on the planet Earth.
I can agree with this
Awesome!
I need more Pangea in this description I don’t understand what you’re saying at all.
I could’ve sworn William the Conqueror was involved here somehow
William the what?
Utah should have been in on him. He would have been perfect there. I actually like the fit for the Kings, but not for multiple years. I feel like they could use a skilled 4 that can shoot. That being said, it probably makes sense to let the kids play
Bagley will be fine with playing the 3. That will be a license to do his own thing!
you just said Bagley at the 3 lmao smh
I think we will have a chance to see him try it. Coach K would wave him inside, but he liked to roam. Has great athleticism.
Yeah Bagley is not a three
He’s a 4.5 who will be indulged if they have no better plans for the 3… unless SAC uses their $20mil of capspace to fill it.
4/$78M lock him up Sac Town. No brainer
There’s another gold rush in them hills!
Now this guy would rather play for the Kings, instead of the Sixers? First he was going back to Europe, sounds like he doesn’t know what he wants to do.
He agreed to the exception lvl value deal. Philly however kept dragging the deal out and waiting and waiting. The longer they waited the more he said he was unsure of the wanting to move his family and small children for 1 year to Philly and then likely again the following year when he potentially could move again. He is a big time family man.
He has been telling teams all along he was more interested in years than the overall dollar figure. He just wants to stay somewhere a few years for his family, especially since he moved them from overseas to Minnesota the first time.
Winters in Minnesota vs. winters in California— no brainer.